Sound Off for May 4

The Torrington Register had an article the other day about the mayor warning the board of finance that he might have to raise taxes. The article just under that was about how the board of finance just gave the okay to purchase two new dump trucks for the street department for almost $400,000. We pour more money into this department just to plow snow and mow. And how much work actually gets done in an 8 hour shift? An hour lunch brake really is more like two hours when you think they have to drive back to the garage at 20 miles an hour with traffic backed up behind them. Then drive back to the job site and spend another half an hour setting up cones, ect. And this pattern continues throughout the day with coffee brakes. How much money could we save by putting these jobs out to bid ? I remember years ago when O&G would plow the streets of Torrington during big snow storms. They have more than enough equipment to handle these jobs. No more purchasing equipment, insurance, retirements, worker comp, etc. But this would take some leadership. Which is something that has been lacking with this mayor.

Catastrophic jobs news

The Obama economy continues to sink as a mere 119,000 new jobs were added in April. The catastrophic jobs news coupled with diving home sales, shrinking GDP, plunging home values, less cash in the pocket and nose diving stock market spell hard times for all Americans. The Obama administration has been unable to create the millions of new jobs promised but has implemented mountains of job killing regulations, massive deficit spending, gigantic tax increases, and wildly expanded government positions. The Obama failures create real urgency to elect a new administration in November that will create millions of good jobs and a secure future for America.

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Poor Rowland, give me a break

He took a hot tub. Look what we have in the governors mansion now. He lied when he was getting elected. No new taxes. he lied about the concessions. All he does is lie. He is self centered, he wants his own way, he's a bully and he's arrogant. And you are worried about what someone did years ago. Look at what we have now. We are in big trouble now.

Make the cuts

Here we go again, our mayor might be resigned to an increase in taxes, but I'm not. Remember we the taxpayers don't get to vote on the budget. And there goes our 3 percent increase the government gave us for social security, after some three years without a raise at all. Also remember back in 2008 our house assessment were inflated. We have been paying on those prices for the last five years. To the BOF, I say cut, cut, cut.

Debt is paid

Ex governor John Rowland owes nothing to the people of Connecticut. His "debt" is paid in full. The media, ghouls that they can be, continue to circle him, looking to make a story where there is none. Lisa Wilson-Foley owes no explanation. If you do not like her and feel another candidate is more qualified, at referendum, or if the candidate, cast your vote accordingly.

I think much less of Mark Greenberg for his "me too." Perhaps the media, hungry for news should look at Greenberg's business practices. In addition to running the Simon Foundaition he runs other businesses. And has run other businesses. Perhaps voters should be apprised of these holdings? And how many times have other businesses profited from sales or services to the foundation? None, ten, a hundred?

I think John Rowland is a class act. Let anyone without sin cast the next stone at him.

Check the zoning

Instead of saying look what Torrington did to Frank Cannino how about saying look what Frank Cannino did to Frank Cannino? Not because he is not a "wing tip"? but because he chose not to abide by the zoning regulations. People who scoff at the zoning regulations when it suits them often count on being forgiven by the city or town they live in for their disregard of the zoning laws. After being caught they will then apply for the necessary permits, perhaps pay a fine and perhaps be told no is still no.

To point fingers at anyone BUT the person who did not go by the zoning rules is unacceptable. No one told Mr. Cannino he could not run his business. Just that he could not run it where he had located it.

The time to check the zoning in your city or country town is BEFORE you want to do something. Be it a business, a deck, an addition, a tool shed, a chicken coop. Find out before. Then your neighbors won't be the bad guys. The person saying "no" to you after the fact won't be the bad guy.

Responsibility for "no" regarding Mr. Cannino's business sits squarely upon Mr. Cannino's shoulders, no one else.

CDs a bad idea

When did you discover certificates of deposits don't work anymore? Years ago it was possible to take cash, put it into "laddered cd's", and have an income to cover yearly bills. That's no longer possible - thanks to a long recession which allows the Fed to milk Seniors of appreciable interest on their savings. Thanks to Messrs. Bush, Obama, Greenspan, etc. - this is a fact of life for people attempting to live on savings and/or Social Security. We have heard interest rates will be going up soon. Don't' hold your breath until this happens. The Fed intends to keep savings earning little/nothing through 2014. And don't bet rates will go up then either. Seniors strapped for cash are turning to annuities and/or reverse mortgages. "Financial planners" are willing to help out; just pay them 5-10% of net asset value and find yourself on "Easy Street".

What are you doing to survive financially today? How about passing along suggestions that might the rest of us!